Summary:
Mumbai, Nov 28 (PTI) Asking people not to lower their guard against coronavirus in view of the new Omicron variant detected in South Africa, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the state cannot afford to have another lockdown and in order to avoid it, everyone must follow COVID-appropriate behaviour.
He also asked the state authorities to take necessary steps on a war footing to protect citizens from the new variant without waiting for the Centre"s directives in this regard.
"Saying "kuch nahi hota yaar" (nothing will happen) won"t do at all," he said.
Speaking virtually during a meeting of divisional commissioners and district collectors to discuss the COVID-19 situation and the threat of the new strain, Thackeray, who is recuperating at a city hospital following a spine surgery, said Maharashtra had tackled both the COVID-19 waves well.
"The challenge of the new variant Omicron and its severity will also have to be tackled by the administration in Mumbai and rest of the state.
If the virus spreads again, we can"t afford steps like a lockdown.